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Imo Loses N10Bm World Bank Erosion Control Project

Ex-IMSU VC Blames Gov Uzodimma

Published

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 12:51 PM

Written by Agbai Ogele Omerikpo

Imo Loses N10Bm World Bank Erosion Control Project

An elder statesman, Professor TOC Ndubizu has disclosed Imo State has lost a N10billion World Bank erosion control project.

He said the project which as slated for Urualla, headquarters of Ideato North Local Government Area of the state was allowed to elapse without execution.

He added that as a result all communities in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas are groaning under excruciating pain occasioned by erosion menace.

Prof Ndubizu spoke at his country home in Urualla when the National Secretary of Ogbako Ideato, the apex socio-cultural organization of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji.

The former Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University IMSU, Owerri said that the World Bank erosion control project which was due for execution during the tenure of Governor Rochas Okorocha could not be implemented because of disagreement between the state government and the World Bank on the procedure for the execution of the project.

The elder statesman disclosed that the then Imo State government demanded to be allowed to supervise the project implementation as a condition for authorizing its execution as well as paying the state government counterpart fund of five hundred million naira (N500m) which was condition precedent for the project kick off.

He said the World Bank insisted that the procedure for her project implementation could not be negotiated or altered.

According to him, the project remained stalled until the advent of administration of Hon Emeka Ihedioha who approved the payment of the counterpart fund and ordered commencement of work.

Prof Ndubizu revealed that the Imo State government under Chief Hope Uzodimma ordered stoppage of work without offering any explanation to the public.

Prof Ndubizu said the project programmed for completion within twenty months from the date of commencement has since elapsed and the World Bank has since pulled out.

The elder statesman described the project as a hung jury lamenting that it was a consequence of what he described as the mass hypnotism towards electing political leaders.

Earlier, Ogbako Ideato National Secretary, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji, charged leaders of Ideato Nation to place top priority to finding solution to erosion problem in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas.

He recalled that the Ogbako Ideato had sent an SOS message to the federal and Imo State governments to take urgent action to address erosion menace in the two local government areas particularly the gully erosion and landslide at Umuchima on the Orlu-Ideato Road.

He noted that the severance of the Orlu-Ideato Road at Umuchima has left Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas landlocked and caused monumental damage to properties.

Chief Ugoji added the erosion has also brought untold sufferings to the people of the two local government areas as well as road users plying the Orlu-Ideato Road.

The erosion challenge in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas dates back to 1970s.

Erosion sites in the council area were at Umumaisiaku in Ideato South and the Ikpa Nwangwu soil erosion/landslide stretching from Isiokpo, Umuisim Akpulu, Ubaha Akpulu to Ama Durujiburu in Mberu Isiokpo.

Due to the undulating topography of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas all communities in the two local government areas are groaning under the yoke of erosion menace.

Erosion sites adversely hindered vehicular movement are at Umuchima, Isiekenesi and Umueshi.

Edited By: Chinedu Eze

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Imo Loses N10Bm World Bank Erosion Control Project

An elder statesman, Professor TOC Ndubizu has disclosed Imo State has lost a N10billion World Bank erosion control project.

He said the project which as slated for Urualla, headquarters of Ideato North Local Government Area of the state was allowed to elapse without execution.

He added that as a result all communities in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas are groaning under excruciating pain occasioned by erosion menace.

Prof Ndubizu spoke at his country home in Urualla when the National Secretary of Ogbako Ideato, the apex socio-cultural organization of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji.

He said the World Bank insisted that the procedure for her project implementation could not be negotiated or altered.

According to him, the project remained stalled until the advent of administration of Hon Emeka Ihedioha who approved the payment of the counterpart fund and ordered commencement of work.

Prof Ndubizu revealed that the Imo State government under Chief Hope Uzodimma ordered stoppage of work without offering any explanation to the public.

Prof Ndubizu said the project programmed for completion within twenty months from the date of commencement has since elapsed and the World Bank has since pulled out.

The elder statesman described the project as a hung jury lamenting that it was a consequence of what he described as the mass hypnotism towards electing political leaders.

Earlier, Ogbako Ideato National Secretary, Chief Ndubizu Ugoji, charged leaders of Ideato Nation to place top priority to finding solution to erosion problem in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas.

He recalled that the Ogbako Ideato had sent an SOS message to the federal and Imo State governments to take urgent action to address erosion menace in the two local government areas particularly the gully erosion and landslide at Umuchima on the Orlu-Ideato Road.

He noted that the severance of the Orlu-Ideato Road at Umuchima has left Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas landlocked and caused monumental damage to properties.

Chief Ugoji added the erosion has also brought untold sufferings to the people of the two local government areas as well as road users plying the Orlu-Ideato Road.

The erosion challenge in Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas dates back to 1970s.

Erosion sites in the council area were at Umumaisiaku in Ideato South and the Ikpa Nwangwu soil erosion/landslide stretching from Isiokpo, Umuisim Akpulu, Ubaha Akpulu to Ama Durujiburu in Mberu Isiokpo.

Due to the undulating topography of Ideato North and Ideato South local government areas all communities in the two local government areas are groaning under the yoke of erosion menace.

Erosion sites adversely hindered vehicular movement are at Umuchima, Isiekenesi and Umueshi.

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